Delhi High Court Orders Safety Measures for Hotels and Restaurants

Court Directs Action Plan for Fire Safety in Delhi

The Delhi High Court has instructed officials to formulate a comprehensive action plan aimed at implementing safety measures to prevent fire incidents and other emergencies in hotels, clubs, and restaurants across the national capital.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, acknowledged that the petitioner approached the court without prior communication with the authorities. Consequently, the bench directed the petitioner to submit a representation to the officials.

The court also requested that the authorities consider a petition seeking safety audits, including fire safety assessments, for establishments in the capital.

The bench remarked, “There is no record indicating that the petitioner contacted the authorities before approaching this court. We resolve this writ petition with the instruction that it be treated as a representation submitted to the officials.”

Furthermore, the bench urged the authorities to promptly address the request and make decisions in accordance with relevant rules and laws. The court emphasized the need for a structured plan to implement safety measures to mitigate the risk of fire incidents and other accidents.

The petition named the Delhi government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) as respondents. The petition, filed by advocate Arpit Bhargav, sought directives for officials to conduct safety audits and submit timely zone-wise reports.